Clip-attaching tool



Aug, 20, 1929. t c. JONES CLIP ATTACHING TOOL I Filed Oct. 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug; 20, 1929. c. JONES CLIP ATTACHING TOOL Filed Oct. 5, 1926' 2 Sheets-Shea 2 Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES CLAYTON JONES, or DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

CLIP-ATTAGHING TOOL.

Application filed. October 5, 1926. Serial No. 139,669.

This invention relates to a new and improved clip attaching tool and more particularly to a tool adapted to engage a supporting member and to firmly crimp or bend a clip into engagement therewith.

Such a tool is particularly adapted for crimping clips into place for securing signs to steel posts, although it is also adapted for crimping clips for securing wire to fence posts and for other generally similar purposes. Steel posts have come into quite general use for supporting roadway signs, usually formed of sheet metal. and it is essential that such signs be firmly secured to the posts. If loosely secured the signs rattle and wear and. may even be blown off. For this reason such signs are secured to the posts by much heavier clips than those oustomarily used to secure wire fencing to such posts. With these heavy clips considerable power is required to bend them firmly into engagement with the sign and post.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved clip attaching tool adapted for use in bending clips of heavy material.

It is a further object to provide a tool of this character adapted to grip the member to which the clip is to be bent to thereby afford a positive bending leverage.

It is also an object to provide a tool adapted to consecutively grip and bend by a single continuous operative movement by the user of the tool.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanyin drawings; in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the tool with the jaws open;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the tool with the jaws closed clinching a clip on a post;

Figure 3 is a section through the tool taken on line 3-3 of Figure 5, with the jaws open;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a face view of the tool.

The tool comprises the handle 11 rigidly secured to the cylindrical guide member 12. The handle 11 is also provided with the jaws 13 engaging the groove 14 in the threaded operating shaft 15. The shaft 15 is provided upon opposite sides of the jaws 13 with reversely threaded portions 16 and links 36 and 37.

17. On the end 16 of the tool an operating hand wheel 18 is provided, while the end 1 7 of the tool is shown formed hexagonally at 19 to receive a wrench or the like. The travelers 20 and 21 ride on'the guide member 12 and are also provided with internally threaded portions engaging the threaded portions 16 and 17 of the operating shaft 15, as best shown in Figure 3.

The operating jaws 22 and 23 are pivotally connected at 24 and 25 to the travelers 21 and 20 respectively. These operating jaws are also pivotally connected by pins 26 and 27 with the two gripping jaws 28 and 29. The gripping jaws 28 and'29 carry the pins 30 and 31 which engage shoulders 32 and 33 on the operating jaws to limit relative movement of the parts. The pins 34 and 35 extend through the gripping jaws and their outer ends are connected by the These pins 34 and 35 and links 36 and 37' thus serve to keep the gripping jaws 28 and 29 in engagement with the fulcrum pin 38 which is located between the jaws. I

The gripping jaws are provided with re cesses 39 and '40 adapted to engage the bulb 41 on the rear of a fence post, as shown in Figure 2. The operating jaws, as clearly shown Figure 3, work partly in circumferential recesses41 and 42 formed in the grip-' ping jaws. The ends 43 and 44 of the operating jaws are adapted to engage the ends 45 of staple 46 to force those ends firmly against the fence post 47. The staple is shown as passed through a road sign or other member 48 to secure it to the post 47 In the use of the tool the parts are moved to the position shown in Figure 1, by rotating the operating hand wheel. The sign 48 and staple 46 are positioned upon the post 47 and the tool is positioned so that the gripping jaws will receive the bulb 41. The wheel 18 is then rotated in the reverse direction and the travelers 20 and 21 are thus moved outwardly. The gripping jaws securely grip the bulb 41 and as the movement continues the operating jaws force the legs of the staple or clip firmly into engagement with the post. Should very heavy clips be used, the leverage afforded by the wheel 18 may be insufficient and a wrench may be applied to the end 19 of'shaft 15.

It will be observed that the bending of the clip depends solely on pressure applied by the tool and that it is unnecessary to force the tool against the post and merely necessary to properly position it and then rotate the operating shaft. No blows are necessary which might damage the sign or post or loosen the latter in the ground.

Vhile I have illustrated one preferred embodiment of my invention by way of example, I contemplate such changes and modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. In a clip attaching tool, a pair of gripping jaws pivotally connected together, a pair of operating jaws pivotally connected to the gripping jaws, and operating means for the operating jaws.

2. In a clip attaching tool, a pair of gripping jaws pivotally connected together, a pair of operating jaws embracing the gripp'ing jaws, one of the operating jaws being pivotally connected to each gripping jaw, and operating means for the operating jaws.

3. In a clip attaching tool, a pair of gripping jaws pivotally connected together, a pair of operating jaws embracing the gripping jaws, one of the operating jaws being pivotally connected to each gripping jaw', and operating means for the operating jaws comprising a rotatable operating shaft having reversely threaded portions and travelers on said portions connected to the operating aws.

4. In a clip attaching tool, a pair of gripping jaws, a pair of operating jaws, and pins carried by one of said sets of jaws adapted to engage the other set of jaws to cause the two sets of jaws to move together in one direction.

5. In a clip attaching tool, a pair of gripping aws, a pair of operating aws, and

pins carried by the gripping jaws adapted to engage the operating jaws to cause the gripping jaws to open during the opening movement of the operating jaws.

6. In a clip attaching tool, a pair of gripping jaws pivotall connected together, a pair of operating aws pivotally connected to the gripping jaws, and operating means for the operating jaws comprising a rotatable operating shaft having reversely threaded portions and a traveler on each such portion, one traveler being connected to each operating jaw.

7 In a clip attaching tool, a pair of gripping jawspivotally connected together, a pair of operating jaws pivotally connected to the gripping jaws, and operating means for the operating jaws comprising a rot-atable operating shaft having reversely threaded portions, a traveler on each such portion, one traveler being connected to each operating jaw, a guide member extending through the traveler and a handle secured to the guide member.

8. In a clip attaching tool, a pair of gripping jaws pivotally connected together, a pair of operating jaws pivotally connected to the gripping jaws, and operating means for the operating jaws comprising a rotata- -ble operating shaft having reversely threaded portions, a traveler on each such portion, one traveler beingconnected to each operating jaw, a guide member extending through the traveler and a handle secured to the guide member, said handle also havinga portion engaging the rotatable operating shaft.

Signed at Duluth, Minnesota, this 24th day of September, 1926. j

' CLAYTON JONES. 

